First-time homeowners have a lot of important things to consider, especially those who are planning to hire architects. Several factors need to be considered, and homeowners need to familiarize these before finalizing an agreement with any architectural firm. For example, it is important to keep in mind that you are about to build an investment. Check out the tips that follow and use to get the best out of the project.

First Things First; You Need to Know What an Architect Is

Sometimes, people forget what an architect does. The primary task of an architect is to design buildings and draw up plans. These plans show the complete layout of a home or building and often serve as a guide for the architect, the client, and for the workers executing the plan.

It Is Also Important to Examine Possible Expenses

All architects have fees for the projects that they do. These professional fees vary according to the project, the architect, and sometimes, even the location of the building.

Before Sitting Down With the Architect, Draw Up Your Own Plan

Before you meet with your architect, make sure that you have a clear plan of action detailing what you want to happen. You should be prepared with a list of things you want for your ideal home or building. Matters like how big the area of the living room, dining room, or kitchen should be. Are you planning to build a bungalow or a two-storey home? You need to be ready to answer all the questions the architect might throw your way.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Your architect is not the only one who can ask questions; you can, too. And you should! After you share your plans with the architect, he will be asking you to give him time to come up with a visual interpretation of your home. When he presents the sketches to you, do not be afraid to ask questions. This will allow both of you to better come up with a more definitive visual plan. Your needs may be different depending on where you live. You might want a custom garage door in Tempe but no garage at all in Georgia.

Find Time to Visit the Construction Site With Your Architect

If your architect asks you to go with him to the construction site, say yes. If you have prior appointments, find a way to squeeze the visit into your schedule. Site visits give you the chance to make sure that your plans are executed properly.

A lot of people often mistake architects for engineers and vice versa. While the two have several similar responsibilities and may sometimes share the same objectives, certain distinctions make each one different from the other.

Defining an Architect

The word architect comes from architectus, which is Latin in origin. Breaking down the word into two will give you arkhi and tekton, Greek words that mean “chief” and “builder” respectively. An architect, therefore, is a chief builder. He is responsible for coming up with a plan and designing buildings. His responsibilities extend to the areas around the building or location of the structure being built. Additionally, the architect is also tasked with supervising a construction site.

What is an Engineer?

An engineer, on the other hand, is the one responsible for the systems, materials, and structure design essential for construction projects. Engineers are well-versed scientifically and mathematically. When working on construction projects, they are required to adhere to building and safety regulations.

How They Differ

While engineers work with numbers (math) and scientific methods, architects need to squeeze their creative juices. An architect becomes more efficient if he allows himself to explore his artistic side. He should also be good at visualizing things. When clients share their plans with him, he should be able to imagine these and then interpret them through sketches.

If one is to compare an architect to somebody, it would be to an artist or even to a fashion designer. An engineer, on the other hand, is more concerned with the engineering and scientific aspects of a building. He is the one who takes care of giving a structure to the plans drawn by the architect.

Lastly, the architect focuses more on building aesthetics (plan and design) while the engineer concentrates on the application aspects of a construction project.